Fashion: Always about tomorrow

Sources Say It’s ‘Inconceivable’ That Chanel Isn’t Thinking About Karl Lagerfeld’s Succession

There are many examples of this in fashion, such as Emanuel Ungaro, which has struggled to find its footing since its founder departed. Or Gianfranco Ferré, which, though now back on its feet with designers Tommaso Aquilano and Roberto Rimondi, suffered an embarrassing fall 2008 season when Lars Nilsson was fired just days before the runway show. Tom Ford still talks about how miserable he was atYves St. Laurent when he took over in 1999 and the label’s founder complained that he didn’t respect his vision (Ford is not mentioned in the corporate-history section of YSL’s site, despite spending four years there).

Fear of similar situations isn’t all that keeps designers from retiring:

“Few people are able to let go … Sometimes, it is just out of vanity,” said Jean-Jacques Picart, fashion adviser to Bernard Arnault, head of the world’s biggest luxury group LVMH (LVMH.PA), referring to long-standing founding designers.

Lauren, de la Renta, and Armani won’t say a word about who could possibly replace them. If they did, their label would be associated with another name, perhaps resulting in a distasteful fame-sharing situation. Chanel offered this:

“Karl Lagerfeld is the creative director of Chanel and enjoys a long-term contract which is absolutely not put into question,” the fashion house told Reuters in an e-mailed statement. “His succession is not on the agenda.”

Lagerfeld has said he’s against retiring and plans to work forever, which may be possible since he might not be human.

However, other people close to the maison say it is inconceivable that Chanel is not thinking about his succession.

Most fashion houses have several candidates in mind for the day when their top designer leaves but they keep the name secret to prevent their potential new recruit from being poached.

We don’t like the idea of Chanel without Karl. Who wants to buy Chanel designed by some hot young thing? Not us. Not like we buy it, because we blog for a living, but still.

Tough to let go for 70-something fashion designers [Reuters]

Read more: Sources Say It’s ‘Inconceivable’ That Chanel Isn’t Thinking About Karl Lagerfeld’s Succession — The Cut http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2009/12/sources_say_its_inconceivable.html#ixzz0ZpnyCgUa

China Girl

For last year‘s Chanel Pre-Fall “Paris-Moscow” collection, Karl Lagerfelddirected a ten minute silent film, with Edita Vilkeviciute starring as a young Coco Chanel.  This year’s Chanel Pre-Fall collection, which was dubbed “Paris-Shanghai,” debuted in the latter city today; Karl directed a new short film for the occasion, with Edita back as young Coco in a more expansive 22-minute set, this time with dialogue.  Heidi Mount, Freja Beha Erichsen, and of course, Baptiste Giabiconi, join her in the tableau, which was projected against the Shanghai cityscape as part of the presentation.

http://www.fashionologie.com/

Plan B

Olivier Zahm, the man who recently described his trademark look as “a disguise” — “five or six years ago, I decided to wear this kind of outfit and behave as if I were a celebrity. It’s not out of narcissism. It’s for the magazine. For an independent magazine to exist, I had to incarnate it personally” — has been busy with projects other than Purple Fashion lately.  He and art director Alex Wiederin have been working together “on Carine Roitfeld’s book” — no further details given, and he’s also “art directed and designed” the first issue of 31 Rue Cambon, a Chanel magazine — which seems to be in a similar vein as Yves Saint Laurent’s Manifesto — to be distributed worldwide in Chanel stores. Featured, of course, are Chanel favorites like Lara Stone, Baptiste Giabiconi, and Freja Beha Erichsen.

http://www.fashionologie.com/6263333

 

Guess who?

 

Kaiser Karl or Teddy Kaiser?

 

Large than life….. and beyond Chanel.

Who?????

Kaiser Karl my dear!